US5171357A - Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal - Google Patents
Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5171357A US5171357A US07/808,004 US80800491A US5171357A US 5171357 A US5171357 A US 5171357A US 80800491 A US80800491 A US 80800491A US 5171357 A US5171357 A US 5171357A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- melting region
- region
- metal
- vacuum
- melting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B4/00—Electrothermal treatment of ores or metallurgical products for obtaining metals or alloys
- C22B4/08—Apparatus
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
- B22D27/00—Treating the metal in the mould while it is molten or ductile ; Pressure or vacuum casting
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B4/00—Electrothermal treatment of ores or metallurgical products for obtaining metals or alloys
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B9/00—General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals
- C22B9/16—Remelting metals
- C22B9/22—Remelting metals with heating by wave energy or particle radiation
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
- F27B3/00—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces
- F27B3/04—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces of multiple-hearth type; of multiple-chamber type; Combinations of hearth-type furnaces
- F27B3/045—Multiple chambers, e.g. one of which is used for charging
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
- F27B3/00—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces
- F27B3/08—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces heated electrically, with or without any other source of heat
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
- F27B3/00—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces
- F27B3/10—Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to hearth-type furnaces
- F27B3/24—Cooling arrangements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
- F27D1/00—Casings; Linings; Walls; Roofs
- F27D1/12—Casings; Linings; Walls; Roofs incorporating cooling arrangements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
- F27D7/00—Forming, maintaining, or circulating atmospheres in heating chambers
- F27D7/06—Forming or maintaining special atmospheres or vacuum within heating chambers
- F27D2007/066—Vacuum
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
- F27D99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F27D99/0001—Heating elements or systems
- F27D99/0006—Electric heating elements or system
- F27D2099/0031—Plasma-torch heating
Definitions
- This invention relates to improvements in vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal, such as in an electron beam or plasma furnace, and to an improved furnace for use in such processing.
- Certain reactive metals such as titanium, for example, are prepared by reduction of chlorides of the metals using sodium or magnesium to produce sponge metal.
- Such sponge metals contain trapped sodium or magnesium chloride and, when heated in a vacuum such as in an electron beam or plasma furnace, the trapped chlorides vaporize in an explosive manner, spraying unmelted sponge particles throughout the interior of the furnace so as to reduce the yield and also contaminate material which has been refined in the furnace with unrefined particles.
- scrap material resulting from the machining or other forming of such metals which has been compacted into a solid piece for processing may contain vaporizable impurities which produce the same effect.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum furnace for processing particulate reactive metals in an improved manner.
- particulate reactive metal is conveyed to the melting region through a conveyor at one side of the melting region and closely-spaced water-cooled shield members surround the other sides of the melting region to intercept material sprayed from the melting region by splashing during introduction of particles into the melting region or by spraying from the surface of the particulate material as it is heated.
- a particulate metal feeding tube supplies particulate metal to one side of the melting area of the hearth and three water-cooled shield members are supported on the other sides of the melting area with their bottom edges disposed in closely-spaced relation to the surface of the molten material in the hearth and an energy source positioned above the region surrounded by the feeding tube and the shield members supplies energy to melt the particulate metal supplied from the feeding tube.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a representative embodiment of a vacuum furnace arranged in accordance with the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the furnace shown in FIG. 1.
- the melting region 10 of a vacuum furnace which may, for example, be an electron beam or plasma furnace having an evacuated enclosure (not shown) includes an electron beam or plasma gun 11 arranged in the usual manner to direct a beam of energy 12 in a controlled pattern to heat the metallic raw material to be melted and processed in the furnace.
- a hearth 13 arranged to receive the metallic material to be processed has circulation pipes 14 to circulate cooling water through the hearth in the usual manner. As a result, the hearth is lined with a solid skull 15 of the molten metal 16 in the hearth.
- Another electron beam or plasma gun 17 is arranged to direct a beam of energy 18 in a controlled manner toward a refining region 19 at a location downstream in the hearth from the melting region 10 where the molten metal is refined and the concentration of constituents may be controlled by vaporization.
- the molten metal is transferred through a pour spout 20 into a water-cooled mold 21 where the refined metal is solidified into an ingot 22 and withdrawn downwardly in the usual manner.
- another electron beam or plasma gun 23 directs a beam of energy 24 in a controlled manner toward the surface of the molten metal in the mold.
- Solid metal such as titanium sponge which contains included vaporizable substances such as sodium or magnesium chloride as a result of the sponge formation process or compacted scrap metal containing vaporizable impurities is supplied in the form of solid pieces or particles 25 to the melting region 10 of the furnace through a feeding tube 26.
- the particles 25 may be carried through the feeding tube 26 by a screw conveyor or the like or they may be fed by gravity to the melting region.
- the particles 25 may be supplied directly to the pool of molten metal 16, as shown in the drawings or, alternatively, the melting region of the hearth may have an elevated surface (not shown), disposed above the level of the molten metal 16, to which the particles 25 are supplied, thereby avoiding splashing of molten metal. In that case, the beam of energy 12 melts the particles to produce molten material which flows from the elevated surface into the pool of molten metal.
- Impingement of energy from the gun 11 on the particles 25 initially melts the material at the surface of the particles. Because the particles contain vaporizable inclusions, heating of the particle surfaces causes the vaporizable material to be vaporized rapidly and to eject solid or partially melted metal away from the particles as indicated by the arrows 27. Such spraying of solid or partially melted material will occur regardless of whether the particles 25 are supplied directly to the pool of molten metal or are deposited on an elevated surface for melting. In addition, spraying of material from the melting region may be caused by splashing when the solid particles 25 are dropped into the molten metal 16. If such unrefined material is sprayed into the refining region 19, it may not be sufficiently refined before it is conveyed into the mold 21, resulting in contamination or compositional variation of the ingot 22 being formed in the mold.
- shield members 28 substantially surrounding the melting region of the hearth to intercept material sprayed from the particles 25 as shown by the arrows 27 in the drawings. Most of the sprayed material thus intercepted falls back into the melting region 10 of the hearth. Any material which adheres to the shield surfaces may be melted by appropriate application of the energy beam 12 from the gun 11.
- each of the shield members 28 is provided with ducts for cooling water as illustrated in FIG. 1.
- a further shield member may be included at the side where the feed tube 26 supplies material to the hearth.
- the feed tube 26 may be raised to a level above the upper edge of the shield or it may extend through an appropriate opening in the shield member.
Abstract
Description
Claims (10)
Priority Applications (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/808,004 US5171357A (en) | 1991-12-16 | 1991-12-16 | Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal |
EP93900629A EP0571605A1 (en) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-11-23 | Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal |
PCT/US1992/010093 WO1993012261A1 (en) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-11-23 | Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal |
AU32223/93A AU651265B2 (en) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-11-23 | Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal |
JP5510920A JPH06504325A (en) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-11-23 | Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metals |
CA002084220A CA2084220A1 (en) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-12-01 | Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/808,004 US5171357A (en) | 1991-12-16 | 1991-12-16 | Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US5171357A true US5171357A (en) | 1992-12-15 |
Family
ID=25197635
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US07/808,004 Expired - Lifetime US5171357A (en) | 1991-12-16 | 1991-12-16 | Vacuum processing of particulate reactive metal |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5171357A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0571605A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH06504325A (en) |
AU (1) | AU651265B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2084220A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1993012261A1 (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1995023238A1 (en) * | 1994-02-23 | 1995-08-31 | Orbit Technologies, Inc. | Low cost titanium production |
EP0896197A1 (en) * | 1997-08-04 | 1999-02-10 | Oregon Metallurgical Corporation | Straight hearth furnace for titanium refining |
US6264884B1 (en) | 1999-09-03 | 2001-07-24 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Purification hearth |
US6271501B1 (en) * | 1998-06-22 | 2001-08-07 | Cabot Corporation | High temperature rotating vacuum kiln and method for heat treating solid particulate material under a vacuum |
US20100247946A1 (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2010-09-30 | Titanium Metals Corporation | Method and apparatus for semi-continuous casting of hollow ingots and products resulting therefrom |
US9050650B2 (en) | 2013-02-05 | 2015-06-09 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Tapered hearth |
US11150021B2 (en) | 2011-04-07 | 2021-10-19 | Ati Properties Llc | Systems and methods for casting metallic materials |
US11174524B1 (en) * | 2020-05-14 | 2021-11-16 | University Of Science And Technology Beijing | Production apparatus and method for electric arc furnace steelmaking with fully continuous ultra-short process |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6175585B1 (en) * | 1999-07-15 | 2001-01-16 | Oregon Metallurgical Corporation | Electron beam shielding apparatus and methods for shielding electron beams |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2734244A (en) * | 1956-02-14 | herres | ||
US3101515A (en) * | 1960-06-03 | 1963-08-27 | Stauffer Chemical Co | Electron beam furnace with magnetically guided axial and transverse beams |
US3771585A (en) * | 1971-03-04 | 1973-11-13 | Krupp Gmbh | Device for melting sponge metal using inert gas plasmas |
US4571259A (en) * | 1985-01-18 | 1986-02-18 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Apparatus and process for reduction of metal oxides |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3177535A (en) * | 1960-06-21 | 1965-04-13 | Stauffer Chemical Co | Electron beam furnace with low beam source |
US3343828A (en) * | 1962-03-30 | 1967-09-26 | Air Reduction | High vacuum furnace |
JPS6277430A (en) * | 1985-09-30 | 1987-04-09 | Kobe Steel Ltd | Electron beam melting and casting apparatus |
JPS6277427A (en) * | 1985-09-30 | 1987-04-09 | Kobe Steel Ltd | Electron beam melting and casting apparatus |
JPS6277428A (en) * | 1985-09-30 | 1987-04-09 | Kobe Steel Ltd | Electron beam melting method for material containing spongy active metal |
JPS62156233A (en) * | 1985-12-27 | 1987-07-11 | Kobe Steel Ltd | Electron beam melting method |
USRE32932E (en) * | 1987-03-06 | 1989-05-30 | A Johnson Metals Corporation | Cold hearth refining |
US4750542A (en) * | 1987-03-06 | 1988-06-14 | A. Johnson Metals Corporation | Electron beam cold hearth refining |
US5084090A (en) * | 1990-07-19 | 1992-01-28 | Axel Johnson Metals, Inc. | Vacuum processing of reactive metal |
-
1991
- 1991-12-16 US US07/808,004 patent/US5171357A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-11-23 AU AU32223/93A patent/AU651265B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-11-23 EP EP93900629A patent/EP0571605A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-11-23 JP JP5510920A patent/JPH06504325A/en active Pending
- 1992-11-23 WO PCT/US1992/010093 patent/WO1993012261A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1992-12-01 CA CA002084220A patent/CA2084220A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2734244A (en) * | 1956-02-14 | herres | ||
US3101515A (en) * | 1960-06-03 | 1963-08-27 | Stauffer Chemical Co | Electron beam furnace with magnetically guided axial and transverse beams |
US3771585A (en) * | 1971-03-04 | 1973-11-13 | Krupp Gmbh | Device for melting sponge metal using inert gas plasmas |
US4571259A (en) * | 1985-01-18 | 1986-02-18 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Apparatus and process for reduction of metal oxides |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1995023238A1 (en) * | 1994-02-23 | 1995-08-31 | Orbit Technologies, Inc. | Low cost titanium production |
US5503655A (en) * | 1994-02-23 | 1996-04-02 | Orbit Technologies, Inc. | Low cost titanium production |
EP0896197A1 (en) * | 1997-08-04 | 1999-02-10 | Oregon Metallurgical Corporation | Straight hearth furnace for titanium refining |
US5972282A (en) * | 1997-08-04 | 1999-10-26 | Oregon Metallurgical Corporation | Straight hearth furnace for titanium refining |
US6271501B1 (en) * | 1998-06-22 | 2001-08-07 | Cabot Corporation | High temperature rotating vacuum kiln and method for heat treating solid particulate material under a vacuum |
US6264884B1 (en) | 1999-09-03 | 2001-07-24 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Purification hearth |
US20100247946A1 (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2010-09-30 | Titanium Metals Corporation | Method and apparatus for semi-continuous casting of hollow ingots and products resulting therefrom |
US8074704B2 (en) | 2009-03-27 | 2011-12-13 | Titanium Metals Corporation | Method and apparatus for semi-continuous casting of hollow ingots and products resulting therefrom |
US11150021B2 (en) | 2011-04-07 | 2021-10-19 | Ati Properties Llc | Systems and methods for casting metallic materials |
US9050650B2 (en) | 2013-02-05 | 2015-06-09 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Tapered hearth |
US9205489B2 (en) | 2013-02-05 | 2015-12-08 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Hearth and casting system |
US9221097B2 (en) | 2013-02-05 | 2015-12-29 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Method for casting material |
US9381571B2 (en) * | 2013-02-05 | 2016-07-05 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Hearth |
US9539640B2 (en) | 2013-02-05 | 2017-01-10 | Ati Properties Llc | Hearth and casting system |
US11174524B1 (en) * | 2020-05-14 | 2021-11-16 | University Of Science And Technology Beijing | Production apparatus and method for electric arc furnace steelmaking with fully continuous ultra-short process |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1993012261A1 (en) | 1993-06-24 |
AU651265B2 (en) | 1994-07-14 |
EP0571605A1 (en) | 1993-12-01 |
JPH06504325A (en) | 1994-05-19 |
AU3222393A (en) | 1993-07-19 |
CA2084220A1 (en) | 1993-06-17 |
EP0571605A4 (en) | 1994-02-23 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AXEL JOHNSON METALS, INC. A CORPORATION OF DE, PE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:AGUIRRE, CARLOS E.;HARKER, HOWARD R.;REEL/FRAME:005950/0419 Effective date: 19911213 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: CONDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS;ASSIGNOR:TITANIUM HEARTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:008660/0849 Effective date: 19970730 Owner name: TITANIUM HEARTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC., PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: PATENT ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:AXEL JOHNSON METALS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:008660/0815 Effective date: 19961001 Owner name: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: CONDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT AND SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TITANIUM HEARTH TECHNOLOGIES;REEL/FRAME:008660/0825 Effective date: 19970730 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (SOUTHWEST), TEXAS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TITANIUM HEARTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:010655/0742 Effective date: 20000225 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TITANIUM HEARTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC., PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF CONDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS.;ASSIGNOR:BANKERS TRUST CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:010719/0610 Effective date: 20000223 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TITANIUM HEARTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC., PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF CONDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS;ASSIGNOR:BANKERS TRUST CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:010719/0591 Effective date: 20000223 |
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FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
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FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 12 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TITANIUM HEARTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC., TEXAS Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:WELLS FARGO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION;REEL/FRAME:025558/0520 Effective date: 20100909 |